UAAP

UAAP VOLLEYBALL: NU climbs to solo lead, sends Ateneo to 0-2

Mark Escarlote on Feb 07, 2018 06:21 PM

National University scored its second straight win to take the solo lead.

National University flirted with disaster before latching on the clutch plays of setter Jasmine Nabor and Jaja Santiago in the fifth set as the Lady Bulldogs moved up to solo lead in the 80th UAAP women’s volleyball tournament.

Nabor nailed three straight aces to seal the Lady Bulldogs, 25-19, 25-19, 20-25, 12-25, 15-7, victory over the gritty Ateneo de Manila University Wednesday for their second straight win in as many outings at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

The Lady Bulldogs broke a 4-4 deadlock at the start of the deciding set with six straight points before Jho Maraguinot stopped the bleeding for the Lady Eagles with an attack, 10-7.

Kat Tolentino committed an error on the next play when she sent her attack straight into the net before Santiago scored on a kill block off a Maraguinot kill for a 12-7 advantage.

Nabor closed the match with three straight aces off the hands of rookie libero Dani Ravena.

Santiago paced NU with 26 points anchored on 20 attacks, four kill block and two aces while Nabor had 11 markers highlighted by seven aces on top of 29 excellent sets. Risa Sato, Roselyn Doria and Audrey Paran combined for 22 points for the Lady Bulldogs, who nailed 13 aces - one service winner short of Ateneo's output.

The Lady Eagles dropped to 0-2 win-loss record in its worst start under coach Tai Bundit, which came in back in Season 76. It was the Katipunan-based squad's fourth straight defeat since Season 79 Finals and third in a row against NU after getting swept in the elimination round by the Lady Bulldogs last year.